From a really young age, growing up just outside of Ottawa, ON, Mary would design, sew and make a lot of her own clothes. She even made a white dress for herself for prom, which she laughs at today.

So when it came time for her to choose a school and a career path, it was clear that something related to the fashion industry was where she was headed.

Did she set out to start a company right after graduation? Not at all.

In fact, her entire company idea was a thesis project that she came up with in her final year. And only after it got a lot of attention in a school fashion show, did she realize that her idea could actually be something more than just a project.

She took pre-orders from interested customers in order to fund her first production run; found a local manufacturer to make her lingerie line (which is extremely difficult, because lingerie and bathing suits aren't as popular to make in Canada) and got to work creating her first line.

Mary felt there was a hole in the lingerie market - all the options revolved around push up bras, bras that changed a woman's shape or made her look like something she's wasn't. She didn't find the lingerie to be comfortable or reflective of what women were really looking for and simply put, she didn't love what was being produced.

Additionally, she wanted to create a fashion company that represented slow fashion - not disposable fashion, that changes with the seasons, pollutes the environment and cares little about the people who make the clothes. For Mary, it has always been a top priority to focus on creating a fashion line that is Canadian made, sourced and sustainably focused.

SOME QUESTIONS I ASKED:

Where does your inspiration for your line come from?

Where did your love for fashion come from?

What was the first fashion piece you ever created?

How did you launch your business?

What has been the biggest challenge with your business so far?

How do you manage everything as a solopreneur?

How have you been able to fund your business?

What's been the biggest help for getting your brand out to customers?

When you have so many things to do and get done, how do you prioritize?

And so much more...

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

Why Mary believes in putting your blinders on

How to source out the best manufacturers

Why it's more important than ever to buy brands that look at slow fashion

CONNECT WITH mary young

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